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Finally, after many false starts and empty declarations, China seems to be powering ahead with its financial liberalisation and lowering the barriers of entry for foreign companies in the financial sector. Has the threat of a trade war with the US pushed the Chinese into finally getting serious about opening up or is this just more posturing?

The pace of regulatory reform has been relentless since the global financial crisis. From D-SIBs, TLAC, MiFID 2 to FRTB, the chain of regulatory acronyms that banks have to grapple with seem endless. Yet, are these measures working to make the banking system more secure or does their complexity cripple banks’ efficiency?

President Xi Jinping’s pet project – “The Belt and Road Initiative” – aims to link Asia, Europe and Africa by rewriting global trade routes. With such a big project, China’s accompanying motivations are also enormous. Be it on an economic, political or strategic-level, the project is sold almost as a catch-all solution.

Robo-advisors claim to bring the world of wealth management to the masses – investment opportunities that were once only enjoyed exclusively by the wealthy. But with many robos advertising low fees, low barriers of entry, and a more personalised investment experience, they can be hard to differentiate.

Barney Frank, an ex-congressman of the United States, key architect and part-namesake of the Dodd-Frank Act, speaks to The Asian Banker about US President Trump’s attempts to change the bill, which he described as a “disaster”. In February, Trump signed an executive order to review the mammoth regulatory system put in place after the 2008 financial crisis with the US Treasury Secretary expected to report his findings in June.

In a matter of weeks US President Donald Trump’s administration will lay bare how they wish to regulate banks and markets. After months of scathing remarks about the Dodd-Frank Act, any clarity on exactly how Trump wishes to overhaul the system is welcomed by both detractors and supporters. But how much change should be expected?

With more than 70% of Southeast Asia being unbanked, fintech possesses tremendous potential to widen financial inclusion and spur economies. Advances in the industry mean more people and companies have the ability to save, borrow and transact. Yet with such a wide and sensitive remit, regulations need to keep pace with the constant innovation.

Basel regulators are trying to finalise changes on how to calculate banks’ risky assets. But US and Europe are at loggerheads about what these should look like. After postponing a decision in January, and failing to reach a conclusion in early March, a compromise is proving to be tricky.

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The following sections outline our proprietary methodology, which subscribers can use as a guide to understand the various research notes and analysis.